IME, knowing one's preferences is key

Believe me, I've wasted a TON of money bouncing from component to component. Relatively recently, I realized why: I didn't know what kind of sound I liked. Once I locked into what kind of presentation I preferred, and was able to order my sonic priorities, everything fell into place. So, I don't think assembling a good-sounding system is a black art at all. Once you know what means "good" to YOU, assembling a rig that matches your priorities should be relatively straightforward.

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